Chapter 13 – The good things I did were discovered by Rongrong.
Zhao Qi cradled two small peaches and said, “I heard that the early peaches from Muyang Temple can cure all ailments. Rong Tang’s health has been poor, so I’ll pick a few to send to him as a comfort.”
He Changzhou paused for a moment and then smiled, “Your Majesty is truly kind to Young Master Rong.”
Zhao Qi replied, “He became like this because of me. I should give him some compensation.”
“From the tone of Your Majesty, are you having regrets?”
“Regrets?”
“Regrets about forcibly taking Rong Tang.”
Zhao Qi casually said, “The deed is done. What use is regret now?”
He Changzhou asked, “Has Your Majesty ever considered letting him go? Young Master Rong has a strong sense of pride; he looks like the type who would respond better to kindness rather than force. If given freedom, he might change his opinion of you.”
Zhao Qi answered without hesitation, “That’s not possible.” Rong Tang and the King of Huai were close friends since childhood. If Rong Tang were freed, he would immediately go find the King of Huai to assist him in usurping the throne and stepping on Zhao Qi, who once humiliated him.
He Changzhou asked, “Why?”
Zhao Qi pretended to be deep in thought and said, “Because I love him. Didn’t you say so yourself? Even if I can’t have his heart, having his person isn’t bad. So, I want his body, not his heart.”
He Changzhou was left speechless.
“Move a bit forward; there’s an oddly shaped small peach.”
He Changzhou smiled and said, “Your Majesty should put down the peaches in your arms first and then pick more.”
Zhao Qi glanced at the peaches in his arms and shook his head, “No, they might get damaged.”
Jiang Dehai said, “Your Majesty, just throw them down; we’ll catch them.”
Zhao Qi threw the peaches he had picked away, freeing his hands. He Changzhou helped him walk a few steps inside and said, “Have you seen that thick and sturdy branch?”
Zhao Qi replied, “I see it. What about it?”
“Hold on tight; I’m going to let go.”
“Ah?!” Zhao Qi instinctively tightened his grip on the tree trunk. “What are you going to do?”
He Changzhou looked up and smiled at him before slowly letting go. Zhao Qi hung from the tree trunk like he was on a horizontal bar. This position was very challenging for his arm strength; even a slight slack would make him fall. Although the trunk wasn’t very high, falling would certainly hurt his backside.
“Ahhhh, He Changzhou!” Zhao Qi yelled, “Are you crazy? Hurry up and get me down!”
Jiang Dehai panicked, “General He, what are you doing! Your Majesty, hold on; I’m coming to save you!”
He Changzhou was standing right next to Zhao Qi, so he could catch him in an instant. He said to Jiang Dehai, “Don’t worry, I’m just playing a joke with the Emperor.”
“What kind of ridiculous joke is this!” Zhao Qi’s face turned red with anger. “You’re dead, He Changzhou! I’m telling you, you’re dead!”
He Changzhou said, “If Your Majesty agrees to share the peaches with me, I’ll get you down.”
“Share, share, share! I’ll give you all of them! Hurry up, I’m at my limit…”
He Changzhou grabbed Zhao Qi’s legs and lowered him down. As Zhao Qi’s feet touched the ground, he felt a great sense of relief. He took a deep breath, pointed at He Changzhou, and made a cutting motion with his hand, saying seriously, “Are you ready to face death?”
He Changzhou knelt on one knee, “I’m ready, but before dying, please remember to let me have some peaches.”
Zhao Qi grabbed a peach from Jiang Dehai’s arms and threw it at He Changzhou, “Eat it, eat it! I’ll kill you for real!”
Coincidentally, Xiao Shiqing, who was passing by and witnessed everything, let out a cold laugh, “Utterly boring.”
Soon, the day to return to the palace arrived. Empress Dowager Wen, who had just finished her final lecture on Buddhism and was bidding farewell to Master Yuan Tong, was suddenly interrupted by Zhao Qi rushing in, “Mother!”
Empress Dowager Wen furrowed her brows, “What’s the matter? Why are you so flustered?”
Zhao Qi said, “My peaches are missing!”
“What?”
“My peaches!” Zhao Qi cried out in despair, “The peaches I personally picked—such small peaches—they’re all gone!”
Empress Dowager Wen was confused and turned to Jiang Dehai, “What’s going on?”
Jiang Dehai explained, “Your Majesty heard that the early peaches from Muyang Temple can cure illnesses, so he picked quite a few to take back to the palace. But today, while packing up, I found that all the early peaches were missing. I interrogated all the eunuchs who accompanied the Emperor, but couldn’t find any clues.”
Empress Dowager Wen laughed, “I thought it was something serious, but it’s just a few peaches. Look at how anxious you are.”
“This isn’t just about the peaches, Mother!” Zhao Qi said earnestly, “There’s a thief around me, in this holy Buddhist place! Today, the thief only stole my peaches, but who knows what he might steal next time!”
Empress Dowager Wen thought her son had a point, “So what do you propose we do?”
“Investigate thoroughly, we must get to the bottom of this!”
Empress Dowager Wen said, “Alright, let the Supreme Court handle the investigation.”
Master Yuan Tong said, “Your Majesty, the early peaches from Muyang Temple are just ordinary items and have no medicinal effects.”
“I know,” Zhao Qi said, “I’m not eating the peaches myself; I’m giving them as gifts. It’s the thought that counts. Since we haven’t left yet, I’ll pick a few more, though it seems there aren’t many left…”
After Zhao Qi left, Master Yuan Tong and Empress Dowager Wen exchanged glances and Master Yuan Tong said, “Your Majesty, the Emperor has cast off his previous lethargy. His appearance is now vibrant, with a broad forehead and a rosy complexion. This is indeed a good omen.”
Empress Dowager Wen smiled and said, “If Master says so, this old widow can be at ease.”
Master Yuan Tong hesitated and said, “However…”
Empress Dowager Wen quickly asked, “Master, please speak freely.”
Master Yuan Tong replied, “There’s no need for concern, Your Majesty. The Emperor is indeed a fortunate person. However, the Emperor’s fate is marked by excessive romance, which may bring some troubles in the future.”
Empress Dowager Wen sighed in relief, “The Emperor will surely have a harem of three thousand beauties in the future. Throughout history, which Emperor’s harem hasn’t faced troubles?”
Master Yuan Tong smiled and said, “What Your Majesty says is very true.”
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor left the palace for several days, and later, Prime Minister Xiao also left. With no proper master in the palace, everyone became quite lax.
In the Drunken Study, Rong Tang sat by the window reading. Jin Ning opened the window, letting in the spring sunlight, which traced a line of light on his white jade-like hand.
“Young Master, look,” Jin Ning said, “The sunlight is so lovely today.”
Rong Tang put down the book in his hand and replied, “Hmm.”
“Would you like to go out for a walk, Young Master?” Jin Ning asked tentatively. “You haven’t stepped out of the Drunken Study for over half a month.”
“No.”
“Young Master—”
Rong Tang’s tone was indifferent, “Have you forgotten what happened the last time we went out?”
Jin Ning thought for a moment and said, “Are you referring to Young Master Jiang falling into the water? But the Emperor didn’t blame you. Please go out for a walk; the physician also said that your illness requires more sunlight. Moreover, with the Emperor not in the palace, you won’t run into him.”
Rong Tang looked outside. The spring light was indeed perfect, and he hadn’t been out for a long time.
“Alright, let’s go.”
Rong Tang enjoyed tranquility and preferred walking on rarely frequented paths. He was in good spirits that day and didn’t feel tired even after walking for a long time. As they ventured further, they arrived at a slightly dilapidated courtyard. The gate of the courtyard was open, and a woman in plain clothes was scrubbing a toilet.
Jin Ning said, “Young Master, this place is filthy. Let’s leave.”
Rong Tang said, “Strange, why is there no unpleasant smell at all?”
“Who knows… Oh, isn’t that Miss Wang?!”
“Who?”
“The Miss Wang I mentioned to you before. Have you forgotten?” Jin Ning said. “Miss Wang is a beauty whom the Emperor brought back from outside the palace. Later, she secretly had an affair and became pregnant. The Emperor spared her life but made her scrub the palace toilets and said he would test medicine on her.”
Rong Tang asked, “Then why is she still alive?”
“Perhaps it’s because she has great fortune.”
Rong Tang pondered, “Let’s go in and take a look.”
Miss Wang was scrubbing the toilet when she suddenly saw a young man who looked like a celestial being approaching her. She was momentarily stunned and then said, “You are…”
Rong Tang glanced at her slightly bulging belly and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am like you.”
Miss Wang didn’t quite understand his meaning, but the young man in white before her looked so otherworldly that she felt no malice. “You, you should leave quickly. Be careful not to dirty your clothes.”
Rong Tang pointed to the toilet nearby, “Have you finished cleaning these?”
Miss Wang replied, “Not yet.”
Jin Ning was astonished, “They’re still so clean without being cleaned?!”
Miss Wang smiled, “I suppose I’m lucky. The toilets I receive are generally clean.”
Rong Tang asked, “And your unborn child…”
Miss Wang placed her hand on her belly, and her smile twisted slightly. “Hmph, the dog Emperor tests medicine on me every day. Yet my child is strong and healthy. I hope it makes that dog Emperor furious!”
Rong Tang was somewhat surprised. If Zhao Qi truly intended to torture someone, Miss Wang would definitely not be standing here, speaking to him.
“Do you hate him very much?” he asked.
“Although I’ve fallen into disgrace, my heart has long been devoted to someone else. I’ve been waiting for him to gather enough money to redeem me. The dog Emperor forcibly took me into the palace, and when I resisted, he even had my lover killed!” Miss Wang’s eyes reddened as she spoke. “I want to give him a cuckold. I want to curse him to die early!”
Jin Ning’s face turned pale and said, “Stop talking like that. Be careful not to be overheard!”
Miss Wang sneered, “I’m not afraid of death. What’s there to fear about being overheard?”
Rong Tang contemplated for a moment and asked, “How did the Emperor know that your child is not of dragon lineage?”
“The dog Emperor never touched me. How could my child possibly be his?”
Rong Tang’s eyes flickered slightly. “Never touched you?”
Miss Wang sneered, “Not just me, but none of the beauties the dog Emperor has had any real contact with. Some of them even dream of giving birth to a dragon offspring to rise to power, but unfortunately, the dog Emperor never sleeps with them.”
Rong Tang suddenly recalled asking Zhao Qi how many people he had slept with, and at that time, Zhao Qi seemed to have not given him an answer.
Jin Ning anxiously urged, “Young Master, it’s getting late. Let’s go back to the Drunken Study.”
Rong Tang came back to his senses and said, “Alright.”
Back at the Drunken Study, Rong Tang tried to continue reading but found himself distracted.
After dinner, Jiang Dehai personally visited the Drunken Study. “Young Master Rong, this is an early peach from Muyang Temple. His Majesty went to great lengths to obtain the last three and asked this old servant to deliver them to you.”
“Early peaches from Muyang Temple?” Jin Ning exclaimed, “Young Master, I’ve heard from my mother that eating Muyang Temple’s peaches can cure any illness!”
Rong Tang was skeptical of such claims and replied coldly, “Thank you for your trouble.”
Jiang Dehai added, “His Majesty also mentioned that he hasn’t touched these peaches, so you needn’t worry about them being dirty.”
Rong Tang was slightly taken aback. “Dirty?”
Jiang Dehai’s tone carried a hint of displeasure. “Didn’t you say before that His Majesty was dirty and that you felt disgusted on his behalf? His Majesty was quite upset when he heard that.”
T/N: There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~
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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!
If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield
If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’
How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection
What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love
How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep
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